Saturday

 

Green Bean Plants and Zucchini

It has been one week for today since I developed my sciatica pains!  I am feeling much better these past couple of days and haven't been feeling enough pain to take any Tylenol.  Nor am I taking the prescription strength painkiller; I've managed to go without it, although, it's good to know that I have it, if needed.  I am, however, continuing to take the prescription medications as required (I have to take them until they finish).  The dosage of one will be decreased gradually over the next several days until I come off of it; the other one I will continue to take until I see my doctor on the 25th.  I need to schedule a blood test before that, though.

Today, I walked around the house a few times (my daughter doesn't want me to go outside because there are some steps to get down from both front and back doors).  I was allowed to make my own cup of tea in the evening (she made the morning cup) and I drank it while seated in the living room instead of in my bed.  While seated in the living room, with a side table pulled in front of me, I was also allowed to chop up some tomatoes and onions to be frozen and I managed to sneak in washing my tea cup and a couple of other dishes before I got chased out of the kitchen and told to go and sit down!  LOL.  She is very over-protective of me, but, I can't blame her.  Poor thing got very stressed when she saw me in pain.  

In the early afternoon, my daughter went to the ethnic (Armenian) grocery store.  It was the first time she's been to a grocery store in person since last year March!  We decided that it would be safe enough for her to go because she is fully vaccinated.  However, although the CDC guidelines have been revised to state that fully vaccinated people don't need to wear a mask, she wore a mask, especially since there really isn't a way to tell if the other shoppers who might be without masks are doing so because they, too, have been fully vaccinated or because they don't want to wear a mask even if they are not vaccinated!  Better be safe than sorry!

I made the grocery list based on this week's ads and she added a few other items, as well, including one of her favorite herbal teas (a ginger tea).  She bought a tray of 20 jumbo eggs for $2.79, smoked paprika, a container of yogurt, a package of frozen puff pastry, and three big bags of fresh produce (bananas, cherries, blackberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, green beans, snow peas, snap peas, broccoli, red onions, lettuce, a bag of mixed spring greens, cucumber, tomatoes, a Kabocha squash, beets with leaves).  While I am very grateful that the regular supermarket offered curbside pick up of groceries, which was a life saver during the past year of the pandemic, I am also very happy that we can now make the occasional quick trip to the less expensive ethnic grocery store!

Lunch was a lovely salad with lots of lettuce, spring greens, cucumber, sliced apple, etc.

This evening, I asked daughter to take some photos of the garden to post and she took the pictures I'm posting here.  Only some of the green beans are coming up, but, the two zucchini seeds that were planted in the same bed seem to be doing well!

Peach Tree View 1

Peach Tree View 2

View 1 shows the tree as you approach it from the back of the house; View 2 shows the tree from the opposite side, looking towards the back of the house. The peach tree is full of ripening peaches!  Although this year's crop is not quite as heavy as last year's (we thinned the fruits quite severely), the tree is obviously leaning to one side as can be seen from View 1!  What's more, it's leaning in the same direction it leaned last year, before it fell over! Even though we had pruned it to have equal amounts of branches, all around!

This is the photo from last year, when it fell over:

Peach Tree Down (5/31/2020)

I will have to ask M to prop it up, again, on his next visit!  Last year, I started picking peaches in early June.  Going by that schedule, this year's peaches have another three weeks or so to ripen before being picked.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Continuing to feel better
- Phone calls from family and friends
- Daughter being able to go grocery shopping at the ethnic store
- Good grocery prices
- The garden continues to do well

Today's joyful activity was sitting up and chopping some vegetables!  Feeling a bit useful!  

No plans as such for tomorrow.  I will continue to take each day as it comes.  

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?

Friday Update

Blueberries Ripening (old photo)

There were three ripe blueberries to pick, today - my daughter picked them and we shared them with M when he was here to tend to the garden - one  for her, one for me, and one for him!  :)

I am continuing to feel better.

I have spent the majority of the day sitting up in bed, with my leg propped up on a pillow (with support under my knee).  But, I have taken a few strolls (shuffles, actually) around the house and stood at the back door for 5 minutes to chat with M who arrived to water and tend to the garden, without any pain.  On my most recent shuffle, I saw the big white rabbit nibbling on something (grass, hopefully, and not my vegetables or a flowering plant) in the backyard with a very confused garden cat watching it and probably trying to decide what kind of cat it was!  LOL!

Aunt C, friend R, and neighbor T all called to check on me and I called the monks at the temple and neighbor S to let them know that I am feeling better.  My daughter will take my piano lesson slot with S while I am recovering as I have not been able to sit at the piano to practice.  My daughter used to take lessons with her, when she was in high school (and she's better at playing the piano than I am!), so, I know S will enjoy having her as a pupil, again.  A few minutes later, S brought us a bag of pastries, crackers, and a package of frozen fried rice mix!  Such caring friends. 

I had a tangerine early in the morning with my first medication of the day.  Daughter made us a lovely salad for lunch (mine contained lettuce, grated carrot, apple slices, and canned garbanzo beans, with bottled salad dressing), and a cheese sandwich with whole grain bread to have with my evening medication.  For dinner, she is cooking teriyaki chicken, again (at my request), with rice and green beans.

Today, I am grateful for:

- My daughter continuing to take such good care of me

- Her employers for being so understanding and checking with her to see how we are both doing and telling her to take all the time she needs to tend to me

- Neighbor S dropping off a care package for us

- Phone calls from family, friends, and neighbors, and comments from blog friends

- M tending to the garden

Today's joyful activity was being able to walk around the house, a few times.

I don't have any plans for tomorrow, other than more rest and another couple of walks around the house.

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Feeling Better, Today

Bottlebrush Tree (with red flowers)

Today, I am feeling so much better. 

Last night, I was in pain, but, eventually, the pain wore off.  I was calling out and praying aloud in pain and my daughter joined me in praying and she was crying.  So, I began to sing and she began to sing, too.  I started out with a Buddhist devotional song called "Danno Budunge" which is a song I learned in my childhood and my daughter, too, learned as a child attending religion classes at our temple.  From there, we sang my mother's favorite song, "Whispering Hope" and other family favorites and, somehow or the other, the singing was a good antidote to my pain!  By the time we finished singing, I wasn't in pain and was able to go to sleep.  I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to take my medications that the doctor had prescribed.  After which I slept again.  

I woke up feeling minimal pain.  Was able to go to the bathroom and back without too much pain, afterwards.  I am actually able to sit up in bed without pain, which is a blessing!  

According to the ER x-rays, I have some bone spurs and lumbar facet arthropathy (fancy name for arthritis) as well.  I have an appointment with my primary care physician (her office is finally open after being closed due to Covid since last March!) on the 25th of May.  There was no earlier appointment available.  I am on an anti-inflammatory medication and a pain medication that my primary care physician had prescribed; they and extra strength acetaminophen (again, with the doctor's approval) are what I am taking.  I am trying not to take the pain medication the ER doctor prescribed, as it is a narcotic and I'd rather not take it.  It's the same medication I was prescribed after my lumpectomy surgery, which I didn't use that time, either.  I don't want to risk getting addicted to anything!

I asked friend M to stop by and water the garden, yesterday, which he did.  I tried to pay him a little extra for this extra visit, but, he wouldn't accept any payment, saying I was a friend and like family.  Such a kindhearted person.  

The monks at the Temple have been calling and checking on me, saying they have been mentioning my name during their morning and evening blessing services; family, friends, and neighbors, too, have been calling and checking on me and my daughter.  I don't know if I mentioned it before, but, my aunt C and cousin N dropped off some soup on my front door step on Monday night, which was so very kind of them and much appreciated by both my daughter and I; I've been having that soup these past few days.  Daughter made some delicious teriyaki chicken, too, which was lovely.

We also enjoyed the first 4 or 5 ripe blueberries from one of our bushes!  

Today, my late friend Irene's two daughters came to see me; they now live out of state, but, they were down here on a visit.  We were all masked and with both daughter and I being fully vaccinated, I was happy to have them visit.  When I thanked them for visiting me, M said, "You came to see my sister T when she was in hospital and you were there for me when I needed you; of course I had to come to see you".  That was so sweet of her.  I had dreamed of my friend Irene, earlier this week, on the day before her birthday.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- Feeling better
- The healing power of prayers and song
- My daughter for being the amazing caregiver she is
- For modern medicines
- For family and friends, and I include all of my blog readers in that category; thank you so much for keeping my daughter and me in your thoughts and prayers.

Today's joyful activity was finally feeling well enough to sit up in bed (propped up on pillows) and comb out the tangles in my hair!  

Hope all is well with each and every one of you.  May you all be blessed.

A Quick Update

 Hi, this is Bless's daughter. 

I took my mom to the ER yesterday. She is in pain from sciatica. The doctors took blood tests and x-rays which were all clear (no blood clots or artery damage, which we were worried about) and her doctor has prescribed a stronger medication. She's resting at home and she'll post and reply to comments when she is able to. She's currently in intermittent pain and not feeling well enough to go online. 

Mother's Day Sunday

 

A Rose for Mother's Day

This rose was blooming in front of my front door; it was the one I picked to place by my mother's picture on Saturday after I dreamt of her.

Saturday night, I began to experience a pain down my left leg.  I believe it was my sciatic nerve.  It was a rather intense pain and I took two Tylenol and my daughter applied both a heating pad and an ice pack.  I hobbled off to bed, soon after.  I guess I aggravated it with all the weeding I've been doing, last week.  I guess I overdid things in a big way!

We had planned to pick up some take out for a Mother's Day lunch and I had invited friend R to join us, but, she had declined and I guess it was a good thing, because we didn't go out to get anything for Mother's Day lunch, after all!  Instead, daughter made my favorite chicken teriyaki! 

I've spent the whole day, today, in bed, with heating pads and taking pain medications.  At one point, I was gasping with pain and my poor daughter was crying because she couldn't bear to see me in pain.  She has been my nurse and caregiving angel, today, bringing me coffee and meals, water and medicines, warming my rice filled heating pad for me, and generally fussing over me.  It was the best Mother's Day present she could have given me, I think.  As I told her, it was a blessing that she was here with me to take care of me!  I am not sure how I would have coped if I had been alone, as it hurts to walk.  I would have been crying and feeling very sorry for myself, for sure!  

I've had calls from family and friends wishing me for Mother's Day.  Neighbor S called and brought over dinner!  Rice pilaf, fried tilapia which I believe her mother made, and squares of ham and cheese pastry her daughter had made.  Such a blessing!  I did postpone this week's piano lesson, however, because I have been unable to practice today and I am not sure if I'll be able to sit up on the piano stool for the hour long lesson.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Having my daughter home to take care of me!
- Heating pads and pain medication
- Phone calls from family and friends
- S bringing us dinner
- S's daughter being available to accompany my daughter to the dentist's and back on Tuesday, if needed

Today's joyful activity was being taken care of so tenderly by my daughter.

I've no plans for tomorrow, other than taking it easy and resting!  Daughter ordered some groceries (including ice cream and soup) and will pick them up, tomorrow.  Hopefully, I'll be recovered in time to take care of her on Tuesday!

Hope each and everyone of you have a lovely day, tomorrow.

Saturday

 

Cornflowers

I woke up this morning calling out for my mother!  She had just died in my dream and I was at her funeral.  In my dream, I was calling out for her and the last time I called out, I did so aloud,  and it woke me up!  I guess I dreamt of her because it is Mother's Day, here, tomorrow?   Or, perhaps because I've been spending so much time in the garden, lately (she loved to garden).  Later in the morning, I picked a red rose that was growing in the garden and placed it in a vase near her photograph on the living room mantel.  

M stopped by in the afternoon to pick up something he had left behind, yesterday, and while he was here, he replaced the burnt out light bulb in the front porch light for me.  Later, I watered the back garden.  

Mourning Doves

This pair of mourning doves are regular visitors in the garden.  They come to eat the kibble I put out for the garden cats and they share the cats' water dish (when the cats are not around, of course!)  I was able to photograph them as they picked at some grass seeds and checked out the weeds I had pulled out from under the lemon trees:

Mourning Doves

One wanted to rest and the other one preened

In the evening, daughter and I went to the store to pick up some indoor cat food for Dancer.  I had bought a small bag of it for him when daughter was getting her second vaccination dose and he just loves it.  He finished the bag a couple of days ago and was looking for more!  He didn't want the regular dry food he used to eat!  So, daughter put in an order for two more bags of the indoor cat food and we picked it up (free curbside pick up).

On the way home, we put gas to the car.  I like to keep the gas tank at least half full, but, I had let it go down to quarter tank, this time!  The small earthquake we had earlier this evening was a good reminder about why I keep the tank at least half full - so that there is enough gas in the car to drive somewhere if there is an emergency (if we lose power as a result of a strong earthquake, gas pumps will not work).  Gas was $3.89 at the cheapest gas station and I put $40.00 worth.  

Then, for the first time since March 2020, we went to a drive through fast food place to pick up food to go!  Chicken nuggets for daughter, a hamburger for me, and fries to share!  

After dinner, I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, scrubbing under the stove burners, etc. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Memories of my mother
- Garden flowers
- Garden visitors
- Gas for the car
- Indoor cat food for Dancer

Today's joyful activity was getting fast food for dinner!  

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?  

Friday

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

The star jasmine vine is flowering.  It used to grow on a trellis, but, the trellis has broken and the plant is now half sprawled on the ground and half climbing up the wall on its own.  The broken trellis is entangled in the vines and I am not sure how to remove it without cutting down the vine, completely, which I am not willing to do!

The wildflower patch has some pretty white flowers (a type of Gypsophila) in addition to the calendula and the last of the California poppies:

Gypsophila and Calendula 

While I was photographing the flowers, this little visitor came by for some refreshments:

Butterfly!

Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

Female Pieris rapae

Enjoying the nectar

The female cabbage white butterfly has two black spots on the wings; the males have only one spot; that's how I was able to identify this one as a female.  Cabbage whites are some of the most common butterflies in my garden and M doesn't like them because they lay their eggs on the vegetable plants!  I've already found some of their caterpillars chomping away on my broccoli leaves (didn't think to take a picture of them!), but, I don't mind because I like butterflies.  

I am afraid I didn't do any cleaning in the bedroom, today.  I didn't do any weeding, either, because my back is hurting me from all the weeding I've done this week.  M did a little more weeding for me and he trimmed two of the lemon trees.  He also planted more green beans for me because only some of the beans we planted earlier have sprouted.  I had him plant them in the last flower bed I had weeded.  

What I did do was organize the freezer and do a partial freezer inventory!  I've been trying to keep the freezer organized with all the meat in one place, the dairy items (frozen milk, butter, ice cream, etc.) on one shelf, etc.  However, sometimes, especially after a bit grocery pick up, items get shoved where there is space and after sometime, I no longer know what is in there!   I was, actually, trying to take out some fish to cook for dinner and that turned into the "pull everything out, wash the bottom drawer and area under the drawer (something had spilled), and reorganize the freezer" project!  It wasn't even on my May projects list!  I didn't do the very top shelf (which I had organized a few weeks ago) and the shelf immediately below that, because I got tired, it was already past 9:00 p.m., and dinner hadn't been cooked, yet!    But, I've a pretty good idea of what I have in the freezer and where things are!  

Eventually, I cooked dinner - salmon fillets sauteed with red onions and tomatoes, angel hair pasta, edamame (soy beans), and asparagus.  Then, I washed a pile of dishes and saucepans.  I delegated putting away the leftovers to my daughter!  

I also put a packet of chicken breasts to thaw to cook over the weekend.  Daughter will be able to enjoy some of it before she goes for her next tooth extraction on Tuesday.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- A restful day
- A full freezer

- Garden flowers and butterflies
- M's help with the garden
- Phone calls with family and friends

Today's joyful activity was spending time in the garden, taking pictures, etc.

Plans for tomorrow include starting the car, since it has not been started all week!

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?